Battery pack attached to a cable

ABSTRACT

An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing, (b) a powered element within the housing; (ii) a battery pack, wherein the handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functional system, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application claiming priority to andthe benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/012,250, filed onAug. 28, 2013, granted as U.S. Pat. No. 9,118,057, entitled “BatteryPack Attached to a Cable”, which claims the benefit and priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/694,522, filed on Aug. 29, 2012, thecontents of which are both hereby incorporated by reference as ifrecited in full herein for all purposes.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to power sources for hand-helddevices, and more particularly a battery pack supplying energy to amotor of an electrosurgical hand-held medical device.

BACKGROUND

Different versions of battery packs supplying energy to hand-helddevices are known, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,112,299; 5,814,044; orU.S. Patent Applications Nos. 2004/0092992 and U.S. 2008/0065001, all ofwhich are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety hereinfor all purposes. When operating a hand-held device, a user may want tomanipulate a light-weight device. This is especially imperative when auser operates the device for prolonged time, such as a surgeon operatinga medical hand-held device utilized during surgery. The problem is thatsuch devices have batteries located in their housing; therefore addingweight to the housing, thus adding extra weight a surgeon has to hold inhis or her hand while operating the device.

Additionally, a user of a hand-held device powered by a battery packlocated outside of the housing may want to keep the battery pack in acertain distance and away from the floor or other surfaces, such as asurgeon may need to ensure that the battery pack does not compromise thesterile environment around a patient in the operating room. Therefore,the user of the device may want the battery pack to be lightweight,portable, and remote from the device. The problem is that the knownbattery packs located outside of the housing supplying energy tohand-held devices are bulky as they house additional mechanisms, such asa recharging mechanism, which requires setting of the battery pack onthe floor or other surface which may compromise sterility around thepatient.

Further still, a user of a hand-held device, such as an electrosurgicalhand-held device, powered by a battery pack located outside of thehousing may need to connect the hand-held device to a functional system,such as a generator or an irrigation device. Therefore, if a user needsto connect the device to a generator or an irrigation system, a cablecontaining electrosurgical lead wires or an irrigation line leading fromthe device to a generator or an irrigation system is needed.

Therefore, there is need for a battery pack supplying energy to afunctioning portion of a hand-held device which would be located outsideof the device's housing; thus reducing weight of the hand-held portionof the device. Additionally, there is a need for a battery pack remotefrom the device which would allow a user of the device to keep thesterile environment around a patient in the operating room. Finally,there is a need for a system utilizing a battery pack which transmitselectrical energy from the battery pack to the handpiece, and such asystem also allows a user of the device to connect the handpiece toanother functioning system, such as a generator or an irrigation system.

SUMMARY

An article comprising: (i) a handheld device including (a) a housing,(b) a powered element within the housing; (ii) a battery pack, whereinthe handheld device is connected by an external cable to a functionalsystem, wherein the battery pack is attached to the external cable, andwherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.

Another embodiment includes: an article comprising: (i) anelectrosurgical medical device including (a) a housing, (b) a poweredelement within the housing; (ii) a battery pack, wherein theelectrosurgical medical device is connected by an external cable to afunctional system in a console, wherein the battery pack is attached toa segment of the external cable connecting the housing to the batterypack, and wherein the battery pack supplies power to the poweredelement.

Another embodiment includes: an article comprising: (i) anelectrosurgical medical device including (a) a housing, (b) a motorwithin the housing; (ii) a battery pack, wherein the electrosurgicalmedical device is a debrider with at least one inner blade coupled tothe motor, wherein the electrosurgical medical device is connected by anexternal cable to a generator, wherein the battery pack is attached to asegment of the external cable connecting the housing to the batterypack, wherein the battery pack is attached to a plug interfacing withthe generator by another segment of the external cable, wherein thebattery pack supplies power to the motor, and wherein the battery packis wired to the external cable.

Preferably, the functional system is located in a console. Preferably,the handheld device is an electrosurgical medical device. Preferably,the electrosurgical medical device is a debrider. Preferably, theconsole houses a generator, and the external cable contains battery leadwires and electrosurgical lead wires. Preferably, a segment of theexternal cable connects the battery pack to a plug interfacing with thegenerator. Preferably, the electrosurgical medical device has at leastone electrode, and the generator supplies power to the at least oneelectrode. Preferably, the electrosurgical medical device has at leastone inner blade coupled to the motor. Preferably, a segment of theexternal cable is an irrigation line and the console is an irrigationsystem.

The present teachings provide a battery pack attached to a cable and amethod of using a battery pack attached to a cable supplying electricalenergy to a hand-held device. The advantage of the present invention isthe placement of the battery pack outside of the housing of a hand-helddevice; therefore allowing for weight-reduction of the device's housingwhich makes manipulation and operation of the device more comfortablefor a user. An additional advantage of the present invention is that thebattery pack is attached to an external cable leading from the device toanother functional system; therefore allowing for spacing the batterypack away from the device without having to place the battery pack onthe floor or other surfaces, thus preventing corruption of the sterileenvironment around a patient in the operating room. Further advantage ofthe present invention lies in utilization of an external cable leadingfrom the device to another functioning system, such as a generator.Therefore, a user may connect the device to the functioning system withthe same cable which is being used to carry the battery pack, thuspreventing a need to add additional cables which contributes to user'ssafety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of an article including a battery pack ofthe teachings herein attached to device.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of an article including a batterypack of the teachings herein attached to a device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a battery pack of the device of FIG. 1 with theexternal cable to be plugged into a generator.

FIG. 4 illustrates a battery pack of the device of FIG. 2 with theexternal cable connected to an irrigation system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended toacquaint others skilled in the art with the teachings, its principles,and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt andapply the teachings in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to therequirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodimentsof the present teachings as set forth are not intended as beingexhaustive or limiting of the teachings. The scope of the teachingsshould, therefore, be determined not with reference to the abovedescription, but should instead be determined with reference to theappended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which suchclaims are entitled. The disclosure of all articles and references,including patent applications and publications, are incorporated byreference for all purposes. Other combinations are also possible as willbe gleaned from the following claims, which are also hereby incorporatedby reference into this written description.

The present teachings provide a battery pack attached to an externalcable supplying energy to a device, such as a hand-held medical device,a hand-held irrigator, and the like. A hand-held medical device may befor example an electrosurgical debrider, such as a tonsil and adenoiddebrider. Preferably, the device has a hand-held portion wherein poweris provided to the functioning portion of the device by one or morebatteries of the battery pack. More preferably, the device is alight-weight, portable hand-held device. The device may comprise ahousing, a handle, a powered element, a motor, a light, a light-emittingdiode (LED), a circuit, a motor within the housing powered by one ormore batteries in the battery pack, motor lead wires, electrosurgicallead wires, radiofrequency lead wires, camera lead wires, opticalfibers, an optical end, a camera, an LED activation light, a cable, anexternal cable leading from the device to a functional system housed ina console, an attachment on the external cable, a port, an irrigationport, a suction port, tubing, irrigation tubing, suction tubing, asuction tip, a rotating nose cone, a rotating inner blade placed withinan external tube, a shaver blade, one or more electrodes, controls forthe device, a switch for establishing a contact between battery contactsand battery lead wires, and the like.

The housing accommodates working components used to operate the device.The housing can be any structure that performs this function. Thehousing may have any size, shape, configuration, or a combinationthereof so that the housing can be gripped with a left hand, right hand,or both. Preferably, the housing has an ergonomic shape. The housing maybe made of any material commonly utilized in housings of devices, suchas plastic, metal, or the like. Preferably, the housing is made of alightweight material. Preferably, the housing is made of an engineeringplastic, more preferably acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS),polycarbonate (PC), or a blend of ABS and PC. The housing may have anelastomer grip for better gripping and comfort. The housing may furthercontain a plurality of controllers, various parts of the controllers'mechanism, the like, or a combination thereof. For example, the housingmay contain a shaft with different endings, such as a malleable innershaving blade, a cutter, a distal suction hole/tip; electrodes, such asa monopolar electrosurgical coagulation electrode to which energy issupplied from a generator; different types of connections, such as asuction connection or an irrigation connection; an LED light activationbutton; a powered element; a motor; a light; an LED; a circuit; a motorpower switch, an optical end, a camera, and the like. The housing may beconnected to a functional system in a console by an external cable.Preferably, a battery pack attached to the external cable by which thehousing is connected to a functional system in a console supplieselectrical energy to the powered element within the housing.

The powered element receives electrical energy from the one or morebatteries and powers different mechanisms of the device. The poweredelement can be a motor, a light, an LED, a circuit, and the like.Preferably, the powered element is reliable, cost-effective, powerefficient, light-weight, quiet, and long-lived. Preferably, the poweredelement can withstand a variety of environmental conditions to whichdevices used in the invention may be exposed to, for example causticfluids, radiation, steam, varying temperatures, vacuum, and/or physicalabuse. The powered element can contain plastic, metal, glass, and/orengineered ceramics components. Preferably, the powered element is madeof a lightweight material. Preferably, the powered element is a motor.The motor turns electrical energy into mechanical work and powersdifferent mechanisms of the device. The motor can be a coreless motor orhave an iron-core. Preferably, the motor is a direct current (DC) motor.The DC motor can be a brushless type or a brush type motor withprecious-metal brush system, carbon-brush system, or the like. The motorcan be turned on and off with a motor power switch. The motor powerswitch can be located anywhere on the housing, such as along the topedge of the device, and the like. The one or more batteries within thebattery pack supply electrical energy to the powered element. Thepowered element is placed within the housing. The powered element powersmechanisms of the device, such as an inner blade on the device's shaft.

The housing may be connected to a functional system and the battery packwith an external cable. The external cable may transmit a low-frequencysignal, high-frequency signal, light, irrigation fluids, or any othermaterial the device needs to function from the functional system to thehousing and electrical power from the battery pack to the housing.

The cable may have any size, material, shape, type, configuration, or acombination thereof. Preferably, the external cable has sufficientlength to connect the battery pack to the housing while giving a userthe option to keep the battery pack away from the workplace, such as tokeep a sterile environment around a patient. The external cable may usecopper, aluminum, solid conductors, optical fibers, plastic, and thelike. The cable is insulated. Preferably, the cable is flexible so thatit can be wound and repeatedly moved. Preferably, the battery pack isattached to the cable. More preferably, the battery pack is wired to thecable. Even more preferably, the battery pack is attached and/or wiredto the cable in such a distance from the housing that a user may use thehousing without compromising the sterile environment around a patient.The cable may comprise a plurality of segments, such as a segmentconnecting the housing to the battery pack and a segment connecting thebattery pack to a functional system. Preferably, the cable has a segmentconnecting the housing with the battery pack containing electrosurgicallead wires and battery lead wires and a second segment connecting thebattery pack with a functional system within a console, such as agenerator, containing electrosurgical lead wires only. More preferably,the second segment connects the battery pack to a plug interfacing thegenerator. Alternatively, the cable may have a segment connecting thehousing with the battery pack containing battery lead wires and anirrigation line and a second segment connecting the battery pack with afunctional system within a console, such as an irrigation system,containing irrigation line only. Alternatively, the cable may have asegment connecting an optical end within the housing with the batterypack containing battery lead wires and optical fibers and a secondsegment, connecting the battery pack with a functional system within aconsole, such as a light source or a camera, containing optical fibersonly. Alternatively, the cable may have a segment connecting a camerawithin the housing with the battery pack containing battery lead wiresand camera lead wires and a second segment, connecting the battery packwith a functional system, such as a video displayer, with the cameralead wires only. The cable may be plugged or hardwired to a functionalsystem. The external cable may contain a plurality of attachments.Preferably, the external cable contains a clip for attaching additionaltubing, such as a suction hose clip which allows for suction tubing tobe kept safely out of the user's way.

The battery lead wires provide transmission of electrical energy betweenthe batteries and the device. The battery lead wires may have any size,shape, configuration, or a combination thereof. The battery lead wiresare made of any material which is typically utilized in battery leadwires. Preferably, the battery lead wires are made of a material capableof transmitting electric energy from the battery contacts to the device.Preferably, the battery lead wires are flexible, corrosion resistant,and capable of wet applications. The battery lead wires lead from one ormore contacts of the one or more batteries in the battery pack to thefunctioning system of the housing, such as a powered element. Thebattery lead wires may be attached to the outside of the external cableor be placed inside of the external cable. Preferably, the battery leadwires are attached to or placed within the segment of the external cableconnecting the housing with the battery pack.

The electrosurgical lead wires provide transmission of a high-frequencysignal between a generator and the device. The electrosurgical leadwires may have any size, shape, configuration, or a combination thereof.The electrosurgical lead wires are made of any material which istypically utilized in electrosurgical lead wires. Preferably, theelectrosurgical lead wires are made of a material capable oftransmitting high-frequency signal from a generator to the device.Preferably, the electrosurgical lead wires are flexible, corrosionresistant, and capable of wet applications. The electrosurgical leadwires are disposed in or are attached to the external cable leading fromthe housing to the generator. Preferably, the electrosurgical lead wiresare in the segment of the external cable connecting the housing with thebattery pack and in the segment of the external cable connecting thebattery pack with the generator. Preferably, the electrosurgical leadwires are radiofrequency lead wires providing transmission of aradiofrequency signal between a generator and the device.

The irrigation line provides transmission of a fluid between anirrigation system to a housing of the device. The irrigation line mayhave any size, shape, configuration, or a combination thereof. Theirrigation line is made of any material which is typically utilized inirrigation lines of medical devices, such as silicone. Preferably, theirrigation line is made of a material capable of carrying fluidsassisting in washing out or flushing a wound or body opening, such aswater, saline, aminoacetic acid, antiseptic solution, or the like froman irrigation system to the device. The irrigation line may be flexible,corrosion resistant, sterile, latex-free, long-lasting, for multiplepatient use, any combination thereof, and the like. The irrigation linemay contain a back-flow valve assuring infection prevention. Theirrigation line may be connected to an irrigation mechanism or anirrigation port in the housing.

The optical fibers provide transmission of light between a light sourceor a camera within a console to an optical end within the device. Theoptical fibers may have any size, shape, configuration, or a combinationthereof. The optical fibers are made of any material which is typicallyutilized in optical fiber cables, such as transparent high qualityextruded glass or plastic. Preferably, the optical fibers are made of aflexible material capable of carrying light through the external cableto the optical end within the housing of the device. The optical fibersmay be flexible; single- or multi-mode; coated with plastic layers in aprotective tube; arranged into an optical fiber cable, and each end ofthe optical fiber cable may be terminated with a connector so that auser can easily connect the optical fiber cable to the optical endwithin the housing and the camera or a light source within the console.

The camera lead wires provide transmission of electricity between avideo displayer within a console to a camera within the device. Thecamera lead wires may have any size, shape, configuration, or acombination thereof. The camera lead wires are made of any materialwhich is typically utilized in camera lead wires. Preferably, the cameralead wires are made of a material capable of transmitting electricenergy from the video displayer to the camera within the device.Preferably, the camera lead wires are flexible, corrosion resistant, andcapable of wet applications.

The functioning system enables the device to carry out a function thedevice is designed to do. Preferably, the device is a medical device andthe functioning system allows the medical device to carry out a functionthe medical device is designed to do. For example, a console may housethe functioning system. The console may be any structure housing amechanism, such as a generator, an irrigation system, a light source, acamera, a video displayer, and the like. The console may have any size,shape, configuration, or a combination thereof. The console may be madeof any material commonly utilized in consoles for devices. Preferably,the console withstands a variety of environmental conditions to whichdevices used in the invention may be exposed to, for example causticfluids, radiation, steam, varying temperatures, vacuum, and/or physicalabuse.

The console may house a generator. The generator converts mechanicalenergy to electrical energy which is supplied to one or more electrodesof the device. The generator may be a monopolar radio frequencygenerator. The generator may have different settings, produce differentwaveforms, produce a continuous single frequency wave, create arepetitive waveform, provide sophisticated waveforms with power adjustedin real time, and the like. The generator may have various types ofanalog modulation, such as AM, FM, phase modulation, and pulsemodulation. The generator may have a built-in attenuator allowing a userto vary the signal's output power, thus accommodating a user's need fordifferent amount of signal power for different applications. Preferably,the generator is a standard monopolar generator with a 3-prong plugconnection. The generator is connected to the housing withelectrosurgical lead wires placed in the external cable.

Alternatively, the console may house an irrigation system. Theirrigation system supplies a fluid to the housing of the deviceincluding an irrigation mechanism. The irrigation system may be anystructure performing this function. Preferably, the irrigation systemhas sufficient flow of the fluid to meet a plurality of applications.The irrigation system may supply one or more irrigation fluids, such aswater, saline, aminoacetic acid, antiseptic solution, and the like. Theirrigation system may comprise a multi-application pump, flow controls,pressure display, and the like. The irrigation system is connected tothe housing with an irrigation line placed disposed in or connected tothe external cable.

The battery pack holds, secures, and protects batteries which supplyelectrical energy to the powered element in the housing of the device.The battery pack may have any size, shape, configuration, or acombination thereof. The battery pack may be made of any material withlow electrical conductivity commonly utilized in battery packs fordevices. Preferably, the material is also lightweight. More preferably,the material withstands a variety of environmental conditions to whichdevices used in the invention may be exposed to, for example causticfluids, radiation, steam, varying temperatures, vacuum, and/or physicalabuse. The battery pack may further contain an elastic member which maybe applied over the battery pack to further protect it from externalexposure. The battery pack may also contain a crude splash resistantsealing to prevent the battery pack against fluids. The battery pack islocated outside of the housing. Preferably, the battery pack is attachedand/or wired to an external cable. More preferably, the battery pack isattached and/or wired to an external cable leading from the housing to afunctional system. Preferably, if the device is a medical device, thebattery pack is attached to the external cable at a certain distance,away from the medical device, to keep the sterile environment around apatient. The battery pack may comprise a battery support (a base), anopposing battery support (a cover), one or more batteries, battery leadwires, electrosurgical lead wires, an irrigation line, and the like.Various parts of the battery pack, such as the battery support, theopposing battery support, or the like may contain signage, such as “ON,”“OFF,” arrows, or the like to offer a user visual affirmation thatelectricity is being transmitted from the battery pack to the device.

The one or more batteries provide electrical energy to the device,specifically to the powered element of the device. The one or morebatteries may be any size, shape, configuration, or a combinationthereof so that they securely fit within the opposing battery support'sbattery compartment and supply sufficient amount of energy to thedevice. The one or more batteries may be any shape, such as round, notround, flat or square. The one or more batteries may be made of anymaterial typically utilized in batteries of devices, such as variousmetals, such as zinc-carbon, zinc-chloride, zinc-manganese, nickeloxyhydroxide, nickel-cadmium, nickel-zinc, lithium, or the like, carbon,or polymers. The one or more batteries may be any type typicallyutilized in devices, such as triple-A batteries, double-A batteries,9-Volt batteries, 4.5-Volt batteries, D batteries, C batteries, and thelike. The one or more batteries may be rechargeable or non-rechargeable.The one or more batteries may be disposable and/or recyclable. Thebatteries may be in a plurality of positions. Preferably, the batteriesmay be in an non-engaged position, a ready-to-be-engaged position, andan engaged position. When the batteries are in the non-engaged position,the battery contacts are not in contact with the battery lead wires. Inthe ready-to-be engaged position, the battery contacts are positioned tobe in contact with the battery lead wires but transmission ofelectricity is prevented, for example by an activation tab spacedbetween the battery contacts and the battery lead wires. When thebatteries are in the engaged position, the battery contacts are incontact with the battery lead wires and electricity is being transmittedfrom the batteries to the device. Preferably, the battery contacts arenot in contact with the battery lead wires and/or terminals until a useris ready to use the device. A user can establish a contact between thebattery contacts and the battery lead wires by inserting batteries intothe battery pack, by removing an activation tab and/or placing thebatteries in the engaged position, by turning a switch, and the like.The one or more batteries are placed within the battery pack andconnected to the device by battery lead wires which are in contact withone or more battery contacts in the battery pack and the powered elementin the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing may contain an LED activationlight indicating a contact has been established between the battery leadwires and the battery contacts and that electrical energy is beingsupplied to the powered element of the device by getting illuminated.The LED activation light can be anything that performs this function.The LED activation light may have any size, material, shape, type,configuration, or a combination thereof. The LED activation light can beplaced anywhere within or on the housing. Preferably, the LED activationlight is placed on the housing in such a way that a user can see the LEDactivation light while holding and operating the device and is alertedwhen the light illuminates.

To operate the invention, a user can activate the battery pack byinserting one or more batteries into the battery pack, removing anoptional activation tab preventing transmission of electricity betweenbattery contacts and the battery lead wires, or setting the batteriesinto an engaged position when electrical energy is being transmittedfrom the batteries to the powered element within the housing of thedevice. A user can check that electricity is being transmitted by seeingthe LED activation light illuminated. A user can connect the device bythe attached external cable to the functional system housed within aconsole. If a user is utilizing an electrosurgical device, a user canplug the external cable's segment carrying electrosurgical lead wiresending with a plug into the generator. Alternatively, a user may connectthe external cable's segment carrying irrigation line to an irrigationsystem. Alternatively, a user may connect the external cable's segmentcarrying the optical fibers to a light source of a camera.Alternatively, a user may connect the external cable's segment carryingcamera lead wires to a video displayer. Alternatively, the hand-helddevice may be hard-wired to the console. A user may also connect suctionor other tubing to a port on the housing and attach the tubing into theclip attached to the external cable.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of an article including a battery pack(30) attached to a hand-held device (1). The device (1) is anelectrosurgical medical device (1), a debrider (1). As illustrated, thedebrider (1) comprises a housing (3) including a powered element (2)(not depicted), a rotating nose cone (5), an external tube (6)containing an inner blade (7), an electrode (9), a port (8) to beconnected to a tubing, such as a suction port to be connected to asuction tubing, and an LED activation light (4) indicating transmissionof electricity from the battery pack (30) to the device (1). The device(1) can be connected to a functional system (40) disposed within aconsole (41) with an external cable (20). The functional system (40) isa generator (42). As illustrated, the external cable (20) comprises asegment (21) connecting the housing (3) to the battery pack (30)attached to the cable (20) and a segment (22) capable of connecting thebattery pack (30) to the console (41). The segment (22) contains amonopolar three-prong plug (27) ready to be plugged into the functionalsystem (40). The external cable (20) further includes a clip (23) forattachment of tubing to the external cable (20).

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of an article including a batterypack (30) of the teachings herein attached to a device (1). The device(1) is an electrosurgical medical device (1), a debrider (1). Asillustrated, the debrider (1) is hardwired to a functional system (40)housed within a console (41) with an external cable (20). The functionalsystem is an irrigation system (43). A powered element (2) (notdepicted) is a motor (11) (not depicted) powered by the battery pack(30). A motor power switch (10) for turning the motor on and off islocated on top of the housing (3). As illustrated, the external cable(20) comprises a segment (21) connecting the housing (3) of the device(1) to the battery pack (30) and a segment (22) connecting the batterypack (30) to the functional system (40) housed within the console (41).

FIG. 3 illustrates a battery pack (30) of the device (1) (not depicted)of FIG. 1 with the external cable (20) to be plugged into a generator(42). As illustrated, the battery pack (30) contains a battery (31),battery lead wires (24) transmitting electricity from battery contacts(32) to the powered element (2) (not depicted), and electrosurgical leadwires (25) transmitting a high-frequency signal from the generator (42)to the electrode (9) (not depicted) of the device (1) (not depicted).The external cable (20) contains a plug (27) to be inserted into thegenerator (42).

FIG. 4 illustrates a battery pack (30) of the device (1) (not depicted)of FIG. 2 with the external cable (20) connected to an irrigation system(43). As illustrated, the battery pack (30) contains a battery (31),battery lead wires (24) transmitting electricity from battery contacts(32) to the powered element (2) (not depicted), and an irrigation line(26) transmitting a fluid from the irrigation system (43) to the device(1) (not depicted).

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combinationshall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified,and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do notmaterially affect the basic and novel characteristics of thecombination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” todescribe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or stepsherein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of theelements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may”herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” beincluded are optional.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively,a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might bedivided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient,component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements,ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as manyapplications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those ofskill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of theinvention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but should instead be determined with reference tothe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles andreferences, including patent applications and publications, areincorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in thefollowing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosedherein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it beregarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to bepart of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article comprising: (i) a handheld deviceincluding: (a) a housing; (b) a powered element within the housing; (ii)a battery pack; (iii) an external cable having: (a) a first segmentcontaining battery lead wires and an irrigation line; and (b) a secondsegment containing the irrigation line; wherein the handheld device isconnected by the external cable to a functional system and thefunctional system is a console which houses an irrigation system;wherein the housing is connected to the battery pack by the firstsegment of the external cable; wherein the battery pack is attached tothe functional system by the second segment of the external cable; andwherein the battery pack supplies power to the powered element.
 2. Thearticle according to claim 1, wherein the powered element is a motor. 3.The article according to claim 1, wherein the handheld device is anelectrosurgical medical device.
 4. The article according to claim 3,wherein the electrosurgical medical device is a debrider.
 5. The articleaccording to claim 4, wherein the electrosurgical medical device has atleast one inner blade coupled to a motor.
 6. The article according toclaim 5, wherein the motor powers the at least one inner blade.
 7. Thearticle according to claim 1, wherein electricity is being transmittedvia the battery lead wires to the powered element.
 8. The articleaccording to claim 1, wherein the powered element is a motor and thehousing has a motor power switch.
 9. The article according to claim 1,wherein the console is housed separate from the battery pack.
 10. Thearticle according to claim 9, wherein the irrigation line providestransmission of a fluid between the irrigation system to the housing.11. The article according to claim 10, wherein the irrigation line isconnected to an irrigation port in the housing.
 12. The article of claim11, wherein the fluid includes water, saline, aminoacetic acid, orantiseptic solution.
 13. An article comprising: (i) a handheld deviceincluding: (a) a housing; (b) a powered element within the housing; (ii)a battery pack; (iii) an external cable having: (a) a first segmentcontaining battery lead wires and an irrigation line; and (b) a secondsegment containing the irrigation fine; wherein the handheld device isconnected by the external cable to a functional system and thefunctional system is a console which houses an Irrigation system and isseparate from the battery pack; wherein the housing is connected to thebattery pack by the first segment of the external cable and the batterypack is attached to the functional system by the second segment of theexternal cable; wherein the battery pack supplies power to the poweredelement; and wherein the irrigation line is connected to an irrigationport in the housing.
 14. The article according to claim 13, wherein thepowered element is a motor.
 15. The article according to claim 14,wherein the handheld device is an electrosurgical medical device. 16.The article according to claim 15, wherein the electrosurgical medicaldevice is a debrider.
 17. The article according to claim 16, wherein theelectrosurgical medical device has at least one inner blade coupled to amotor and the motor powers the at least one inner blade.
 18. The articleaccording to claim 13, wherein electricity is being transmitted via thebattery lead wires to the powered element.
 19. The article according toclaim 13, wherein the powered element is a motor and the housing has amotor power switch.
 20. The article according to claim 13, wherein theirrigation line provides transmission of a fluid between the irrigationsystem to the housing.